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asked.
    Turning back towards the party, he all but collided with the loitering Tengnagel. ‘Do excuse me, Junker Tengnagel.’
    â€˜You are acquainted with The Bear, Herr Kepler.’
    â€˜I am not. I’ve simply had dealings with him.’ Kepler walked on, sensing the other man’s eyes following him back into the reception.
    Â Â Â Â 
    It was long past midnight when Kepler followed his wife to the bedroom. Downstairs, a few guests still lingered, seemingly content to see the celebration through to the dawn.
    â€˜You are showing much courage tonight, wife.’ Kepler planted kisses on her exposed neck and chest. Her skin tasted sweet to his wine-moistened lips.
    She pushed herself further into his caress. ‘It’s the fashion. And I need one of those tapered bodices – all the ladies were wearing them tonight.’
    â€˜I didn’t notice,’ he said.
    â€˜Really? They were so beautiful.’
    â€˜There is only one star in my Heaven.’ He kissed her firmly on the lips, thrilled by the hunger with which she responded. He pressed her to the bed, the alcohol accentuating the dizziness of their fall.
    â€˜Think of how we got here,’ he said. ‘I would not have thought it so sweet to suffer the injury and indignity of being forced to abandonhouse, fields, friends and homeland for religious belief. If this is also the way with real martyrdom, how much bigger the exultation must be to actually die for one’s faith.’
    â€˜Oh, husband, you do choose your moments to say such funny things.’
    â€˜Then I will stop talking.’ Kepler let his hands rove across the swell of her torso, finding the laces on her dress.
    â€˜Oh, I can’t wait for you to undo all of those.’ Giggling, she grabbed at her skirts and petticoats, and bundled them upwards, covering her face.
    Later, she lay gazing at the ornate ceiling; her arms swept back on the pillow, her breathing deep and contented. ‘So many people of such high standing,’ she mused. ‘Once we look the part, we will have no problem finding you a job among them.’
    Kepler laughed beside her. Shading his eyes with his hand, he pretended to look into the distance. ‘It is to noble Tycho that I fix my gaze. He is my prince, and at his side will I find my station. Once I am established, I will send for you. In the meantime, the Baron has agreed you can stay here.’
    â€˜Yes, but if it doesn’t work out at Tycho’s …’
    Kepler silenced her with a gentle kiss. ‘It will.’

5
    Kepler clung to the reins with grim determination, wincing every time the saddle jarred his bony posterior. Ahead of him, Tengnagel crouched low on a white stallion, driving headlong into the winding approach road to the castle. Kepler caught a glimpse of the whitewashed stone perched high above Benátky village before the cottage-lined street filled his vision and the dwellings reverberated with the sound of their gallop.
    By the time the castle gates hove into view, Kepler was more than a dozen lengths behind, his head whirling from the strenuous ride. When he finally reached the courtyard, Tengnagel had already dismounted and was strutting about, leaving the stable-hands to calm the stallion.
    Kepler drew his horse to a stop and slumped along its neck. His heart threatened to burst from exertion, and despite the autumnal chill he was sweating from every pore. He slid to the ground, his knees buckling upon contact.
    A gruff voice rang out across the yard. ‘What have you done to our guest?’
    â€˜I cannot be held responsible if he is unused to our pace of life, sir,’ replied Tengnagel.
    â€˜I asked you to escort him here as an honoured guest, not ride him into the ground, you fool.’
    Tengnagel flinched. Throwing his riding gloves into the mud, he stamped inside.
    â€˜What does my daughter see in him?’ the gruff voice muttered.
    Kepler rubbed his